In the world of health insurance, people are sorted into two categories: the insured and uninsured.
However, to be insured means being put into two more categories: male and female. As statistics show, there are more women than there are men. In fact, according to the United States Census Bureau Web site, a majority of the Lone Star State’s citizens are women.
Even though the ratio of women to men varies by only a slight margin, the percentage of items covered by health insurance companies seems to be in favor of men.
For example, when a male patient goes to his doctor for impotence, he will more than likely be prescribed Viagra. After the doctor’s visit, the male patient goes to his local pharmacy to have his prescription filled. The pharmacist informs him that his Viagra prescription is covered by his health insurance, cutting the cost for the patient by far more than half.
Behind the man in line is a young woman who is there to fill her prescription for birth control. She too went to the doctor that day, but her reason was for contraception.
The pharmacist hands the card back to the young woman. Her prescription isn’t covered under her insurance, like most, and she will have to pay between $20 and $50 to get her contraceptive.
It is not enough that the young woman has to incur doctor’s fees along with the cost of contraception; it is also unjust that most other women’s health related issues are not covered as well, such as most tests done for cervical cancer.
If the woman has had these complications prior to enrollment for health care benefits, then some health insurance companies will not cover the procedures needed to treat or test for symptom-related problems due to cervical cancer.
Women are paying twice, if not three times more per month or year in medical expenses compared to men.
The only form of contraception covered by health insurance companies is a hysterectomy, which is the complete removal of a woman’s uterus.
The situation raises some important questions: Why is contraception such a burden on women? Why do women have to pay such outrageous amounts of money just to remain healthy or cautious? And why are health insurance companies more willing to pay for Viagra and not the pill?
It’s simple. Viagra represents an increase of procreation, which is the opposite of the pill – pro-life versus pro-choice.
The underlying tone of this debate could be considered far-fetched, but, considering that our government consists mostly of men, this concept really isn’t that outrageous. Women have equal rights, but they cannot choose for themselves what is right for their bodies and medical issues.
Women are not trying to end or demolish procreation, but at the same time, they are not trying to give birth to a child they may not be able to properly care for.
Everyone needs to be equal on all levels. A person’s health and their ability to pay for health care is all that matters, and should be the main focus of health insurance companies.
